が, like but in English, combines two sentences which express contrastive ideas. However, が is much weaker than but in that it is sometimes used simply to combine two sentences for stylistic reasons even if those two sentences do not represent contrastive idea.

Also, per coco-san’s request, I’ll attempt (if you can even call it that ) to explain the そうですが part that might be giving people some problems…

男の人は、公衆トイレで見知らぬ人と話すことはないそうですが、本当ですか?
I hear that guys don’t talk to strangers in the public restrooms, is that true?

In this sense, そうです is being used to convey hearsay the speaker at one point took in, and at this point, is now asking weather or not this true. However, in the case of our sentence below, そうです is actually being used to express the speakers conjecture about…well, guys and them talking with strangers in the bathroom.

男は皆そうですが、トイ レで見知らぬ人と話をすることはありません。
From what I know though, guys don’t talk to strangers in the bathroom.

Then from there, it’s most likely going to lead into the continuing conversation with our main character, and the guy from next door. Does that…even make any sense there, or did I just confuse a whole bunch more people?

C0kaCoLa wrote:I have no idea what the sentence mean...I cannot read kanji ...its so difficult even in group C..what should i do before being able to translate?

Honestly, I think that even group C requires understanding of hirigana/katakana, lots of vocab and grammar. So my advice is to start by getting a Japanese Language textbook from a university near you and starting from the begining. Universities usually have pretty good texts.

In order to keep the thread neat and tidy, Zangargoyle-san had made the [spoiler] command available, check it out from the thread.

Btw, just to let you know, first sight at your post really make me feel dizzy, so could you please do me a little favour? Kindly please type neatly and in short. You could also refer to Sachi-chan's post, so tidy and well organised, good example to learn from.

It's up to you to decide whether to translate the above 1-4 sentences again or go straight to the next Trial thread (line 5-10) as Richvh-san had directed you in the above post.

Just wondering if you'd read through the entire page and fully understand what's going on here ?

Btw, just to let you know, first sight at your post really make me feel dizzy, so could you please do me a little favour? Kindly please type neatly and in short. You could also refer to Sachi-chan's post, so tidy and well organised, good example to learn from.

Who, me? *looks around* Funny, because perhaps my writing is the only thing I'm organized in. I'm a horrible speaker, and my locker at school and my room are probably the two messiest places on earth ^^; Haha! Thanks!

Justin wrote:男の人は、公衆トイレで見知らぬ人と話すことはないそうですが、本当ですか?I hear that guys don’t talk to strangers in the public restrooms, is that true?

...

男は皆そうですが、トイ レで見知らぬ人と話をすることはありません。 From what I know though, guys don’t talk to strangers in the bathroom.

I think these translations are confusing because they sound like something a woman would say, not a man. Writing them this way ("I hear that guys..." / "From what I know...") makes it sound like someone OUTSIDE of the group that is 'men' is speaking.... doesn't it? Is that the case...? I was under the impression that the narrator was male... and since, well, the narrator is commenting that a man in the stall next door is speaking, unless it's a woman who went into the men's room (which, I think, was established not to be the case).

<_< Did *I* just confuse everyone too, now? >_>

And yeah, kukkii... Calm down a bit before you type, okay? Reading your posts makes me feel like someone is shouting at me. :P